Good SLR Camera's?

I'm looking to purchase a camera to get decent shots, I will be using this to do on the fly slideshow's.

I've looked at the Cannon XTi 10.2 mp
But I've heard the Nikon and new Sony are good, any inputs?

Just about any good name brand is going to be incredible for you. If you currently have a stash of old lenses from your 35mm camera, buy a body that is compatible with your old lenses and you will not have to buy new ones.

I was shooting Nikon before all my gear got stolen and I have a BUNCH of Pentax lenses from before those days... I am currently shooting digital with Canon Powershot, but if I go the SLR route, I am looking at the Pentax k10, which for the money is a great camera!!!

My brother is shooting with a Nikon SLR and wonders why he waited so long... Just buy the features you want at the best price and you cant really mess up on any purchase, unless you just pay too much for something, LOL.

Good luck!

What's your price range.

Since it's for on the fly slideshows, it needs to perform well in low light conditions without a tripod (that's the kicker).

What's your price range.

Since it's for on the fly slideshows, it needs to perform well in low light conditions without a tripod (that's the kicker).

$700.00 - $1100.00

Check out the Nikon D40 & D40X and that Canon xti is sweet as well.

I'd stay away from the Sony's because they tend to be noisy (grainy) in low light conditions.

I would also recommend an external (hotshoe) flash. Provides more light and when used with a small diffusor isn't as harsh as an on camera flash.

Music Doctor is the real expert and he can definitely steer you in the right direction

Check out the Nikon D40 & D40X and that Canon xti is sweet as well.


Jay, thank you for the info, as a matter of fact I was looking at the D40x and D80 from Nikon, now you helped me with my decision, what flash do you think would work well with it without going over the $1100.00 total

If you're going with the Nikon, may I suggest the Nikon Speedlight SB-600.

We have two of them and use them with our D70 and our D80.

With the D40x should I worry about getting a VR Lens? I found 2 deals one for $609.00 with the regular lens and
the other deal is $724.00 including the regular lens and a 55-200mm vr lens.

Any inputs?

The new Sony Digital SLR's are really great in my opinion.

Minolta made really top-notch SLR's & Digital SLR's...hardy and took really good pictures.

Well Sony bought out Minolta, so the new ones are the proven Minolta design improved with Sony innovation and technology.

My wife's family is big on photography. They bought her the high end model (around $1,600 + lenses and accessories) for Christmas. Really...really nice.

One thing I'd recommend is to look at them and HANDLE the cameras. My wife did and that's what sold her on the Sonys. The others just didn't feel as nice or well designed. The canons were very popular this holiday season but she thought they felt very cheap compared to the Sony.

If you decide on going with Nikon, I'd stear clear of the D40 or D40x and go with the D80.

While it is more expensive, it really is more camera and is also more compatible with some of the lenses you may want to pick up if you are planning on shooting slideshows at gig.

The problem with the D40 and D40x* is that they will not auto focus with 3/4 of Nikon's lenses.

And the 50mm f:1.8 at around $100 is the lens you want for shooting full dance floors . . . and it won't auto focus on the D40/40x.

The Canon XTi is a good camera, and better in low light at high ISO (which is where you will be shooting without a flash at gigs) due to the CMOS sensor, which has less noise (grain in film terms) than a CCD sensor, which the Nikon's have (except for their new D300 at $1800 and the D3 at $5000).

Canon just announced the replacement for the XTi, but it probably won't be out until late spring or early summer . . . called the XSi, which has live view in the monitor, 14 megapixels, and they have made a switch to SD cards!

The good thing is that Canon has replaced that krappy 18-55 kit lens from the previous Rebel models with a new 18-55 IS (image stabilized) lens, and it is a very nice little lens.

The XSi is priced at $899.99 with the kit 18-55 IS lens.

As for the Sony's . . . they are very nice cameras and they also just announced three new DSLR bodies.

I personally have an Olympus E-510, and it is a very good camera and probably a much better buy for the money than either the Canon XTi or the Nikon D40x.

However, it is a little bit harder to learn if you don't have a lot of SLR experience, but if you choose this camera, which is 10 megapixel, it does have in-body image stabilizer (just like the Sony's and Pentax K10D or K100D Super), live view on the LCD monitor, and Olympus does make the very best kit lenses of all of the DSLR makers.

You can get the E-510 with two lenses for around $700-$750 . . . maybe even less.



* Nikon just announced a replacement for the D40x . . . The new D60 is a very minor upgrade but will come with an 18-55 VR (image stabilized) kit lens, however, it still sufferes from not being able to auto focus with very many lenses.

The PMA show is going on as we speak . . . and all the new cameras are being announced at the show.

I'll try to do a write up on all the new DSLR's here in the next couple of days so that you can check out what's new and coming to the market soon!

I'm hearing that a decent camera is a Canon "rebel". But, I'm not sure which model #. I'd like to spend $600 or less. I want my picture quality to be better than a point and shoot.

Does anyone know what camera I'm referring to?

I believe the model you're thinking of is the Canon Rebel Xti. 10.1 megapixel and comes in at just under $600. I heard this camera was a big seller this Christmas. At 10 MP it should take very good pictures, and you won't have to spend a lot of money.

Now all that's left to decide is BLACK or SILVER? Here they are on Amazon:



Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black)

Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Silver)



http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/images/xti/xti.jpg



http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Images/Other/Canon-EOS-400D-Digital-Rebel-XTi-Silver.jpg

I LIKE the black one better. I went to a bhphotovideo, and they had several "rebel" models. So... I wasn't entirely sure which one. I'd assume ALL of them are better than a point and shoot. They ranged from about $387 and up!

Good SLR ?

why not do DSLR instead that way you can do more than wait for your pics to be developed :)

Some review websites:

http://www.dpreview.com
http://www.stevesdigicams.com
http://www.cameralabs.com

G-Lou